‘Damn, Am I Proud To Be A Texan!’: J.J. Watt's Unparalleled Houston Legacy

As arguably the greatest player in franchise history, J.J. Watt's legacy is unparalleled as the Houston Texans announce his induction to the Ring of Honor.

HOUSTON — The Houston Texans announced Monday morning J.J. Watt will officially be inducted into the Ring of Honor during the team’s Week 4 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Oct. 1, at NRG Stadium.

"We are so excited to have J.J. Watt join the Ring of Honor as our third member," Janice, Hannah and Cal McNair said in a statement. "Everybody knows how much J.J. means to our family, the Texans organization and the entire City of Houston. He is one of the most dominant players in NFL history and created a unique and irreplaceable bond with our fans."

Watt will become the third member anointed to the Texans' Ring of Honor, joining Andre Johnson and the late-great Bob McNair. His obtainment will complete the trinity of Texan legends who established the franchise's foundation upon their 21st season.

Houston will add more names to the Ring of Honor as time passes. But unless a player brings a Vince Lombardi Trophy to Houston, it will be difficult for anyone to surpass the legacy Watt has left behind.

The Texans made Watt the 11th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. And before his departure to the Arizona Cardinals in March 2021, Watt spent 10 seasons in Houston. He is a perennial first-ballot Hall-of-Famer and one of the top defensive linemen in league history.

A three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner, five Pro Bowl selections and five First-Team All-Pro honors in 128 games with the Texans — Watt ranks 24th in league history with 114.5 career sacks. 

During his decade-long tenure, Watt became the first player in franchise history to reach 100.0 career sacks (101.0). Quarterback Drew Brees holds the unfortunate honor of becoming Watt's first target during his rookie campaign in 2011. 

"J.J. has always kept a special place in Houston’s heart and we’re thrilled to welcome him back," the McNair said. "On behalf of the entire organization, we can’t wait to give J.J. and his family the celebration he deserves on October 1st."

His leadership and passion for the game were unmatched. And with Watt taking the field, the Texans had a handful of their most successful campaigns in team history. 

Watt led the Texans to four double-digit win seasons (2011, 2012, 2018 and 2019). Houston's best came in 2012 when the Texans set a franchise record of 12 wins. 

Watt dominated the league by recording 20.5 sacks, 81 tackles and 43 quarterback hits in 16 games. Houston's success led to Watt receiving his first DPOY award. But Watt's best season came two years later. 

In 2014, the Texans finished with a 9-7 record. En route to his second DPOY award, Watt tied his career-high after registering 20.5 sacks for the second time in his career. Watt also lined up at tight end on the offensive side of the ball, where he made a trio of receptions for three red-zone touchdowns.

Due to his versatility, the consensus believes Watt was robbed of league MVP honors, which was awarded to quarterback Aaron Rodgers. 

Watt made several game-changing plays throughout his career. But none may not be more impactful than his post-season performance against the Buffalo Bills during the 2019 Wild Card game.

The Texans trailed the Bills 13-0 with 6 minutes and 47 seconds left in the third quarter at NRG Stadium. With the Bills taking a snap on Houston's eight-yard line, Watt attacked the edge for a massive sack on quarterback Josh Allen. 

Watt's play revived the Texans, who finished the game on a 22-6 run to win the overtime contest. The game marked Watt's return to the field after a torn pectoral muscle had ruled him out for the rest of the season. 

This game can be beautiful and it can also be brutal. Absolutely gutted that I won’t be able to finish the season with my guys and give the fans what they deserve. I truly love this game and can’t stand letting you guys down. Thank you for all of the thoughts & well-wishes.

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) October 28, 2019

"J.J. has had a great career," Johnson said. "He’s a hell of a player. Great teammate. Hard worker. Three-time defensive player of the year. That speaks for itself. 

"I really enjoyed playing with J.J. as a teammate. Just even getting to see some of the things he’s done on the field and watch him play up close in person. He is a hell of a player, so I’m very appreciative to be his teammate." 

The legacy Watt left on the gridiron is incomparable. But he left a greater impact off the field.

Watt left an enormous impact on Houston's community with his charitable work. In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the 2017 Walter Payton Man of the Year solidified his connection to the City of Houston by serving as an unwavering fixture of hope. Watt raised more than $41 million to support those impacted. 

Watt has entrenched himself in Houston's sports history with his motto "Dream Big, Work Hard," which he began as a two-star prospect during his college days at the University of Wisconsin. 

When the Texans made Watt their top overall selection in 2011, fans greeted the Wisconsin native with boos.

In October, boos will turn to cheers as fans illustrate their admiration for Watt. The love and respect would leave Watt reflecting on his Hall-of-Fame career while reiterating, "Damn, Am I proud to be a Texan!"

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You can follow Coty M. Davis on Twitter at @CotyDavis_24

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